Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Metro-North said its New Haven Line division was experiencing delays this afternoon following power problems in Manhattan and the Bronx.

Portions of the Upper East Side and the Bronx lost power from 3:42 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., possibly the result of a lightening strike, a Con-Ed spokesman said.

Metro-North was attempting to restore normal service out of Grand Central Terminal, a spokesman said.

The power problems were compounded by a line of heavy thunderstorms which moved through the Westchester County and southern Fairfield County area. The storms veered into Long Island Sound before approaching the Westport area.

Catching a breeze on a muggy day at Westport’s Compo Beach, this couple today found the ideal way to enjoy a few hours before temperatures climbed into the 90s and high humidity made even the beach too sticky for comfort. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

The Westport Board of Selectmen today approved the hiring of an attorney and an environmental consultant requested by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for its review of applications to construct a new Westport Weston Family Y at the Y’s Mahackeno property.

RTM Moderator Alice Shelton told the board that attorney Peter Gelderman of Trumbull-based Quatrella & Rizio LLC and S E A Consultants Inc. of Rocky Hill would begin work as soon as possible. The board approved their hiring by a 3-0 vote.

The 36-member RTM, acting upon petition by residents, has until late August to decide whether to overturn the controversial approvals granted to the Y by the Flood and Erosion Control Board and the Conservation Commission. It will take up the issue at its July 10 meeting.

RTM committees have already begun their review of portions of the applications dealing with protection of waterways in the Mahackeno area. The Y had sought approval from the boards to install a community septic system to serve its planned new headquarters on the Saugatuck River.

Westport building officials are reviewing an application to demolish the 1960 house at 40 Park Lane off Compo Road South. The 1,250-square-foot split-level house sits on a .7-acre property. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport ceramics artist Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong installs her sculpture at the Westport Arts Center in preparation for her exhibition in the Solos Show, a group show that features the work of five artists which runs until July 15. The opening reception for the show is Friday at 6:30-8:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Armstrong’s neighbor, Kyle Langford, lent a hand. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Hamilton Laux for WestportNow.com

The temperature got into the 90s Tuesday in Westport before cooling off at sunset. Today’s forecast calls for similar tempertaures with a chance of late day thunderstorms. Scene is Westport’s Ned Dimes Marina. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

A 50-year-old Westport man pleaded not guilty in New Haven federal court today to charges of racketeering in connection with a federal probe of mob influence in the trash industry.

Anthony Luciano, 50, of Davenport Avenue, was indicted by a federal grand jury in New Haven earlier this month on federal charges of racketeering conspiracy and arrested June 14. He was freed on $200,000 bond. (See WestportNow June 15, 2007)

Luciano was identified as a former salesman for a company owned by James Galante, 54, of New Fairfield, who faces a series of federal charges in connection with the investigation.

Galante, who was indicted last summer along with 28 others on charges of participating in a scheme to drive up trash rates, also appeared in the New Haven court and pleaded not guilty to those and new charges.

A show jumper performs at Fairfield County Hunt Club’s Benefit Horse Show, which opened today. The Hunt Club grounds are located on Long Lots Road in Westport. The horse show is open to the public and continues through Saturday and will feature more than 750 riders and horses of all ages and levels competing in 200 classes. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

The first session of the Aquasize class for Westport seniors started with a lovely warm day at Westport’s Longshore Pool today. Ruth Sherman leads the hour-long class in water exercises every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:35 a.m. Westport seniors are welcome. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Westport Republicans Monday night elected Bob Zappi as their new town chair, replacing Pete Wolgast who has served in the post for eight of the last 10 years.Old and New: Pete Wolgast (l) was replaced by Bob Zappi as GOP chair. Contributed photos

Zappi, 49, will serve out the remainder of the term of Wolgast, 73, which ends next March.

Wolgast cited “family, civic, and philanthropic commitments” as the reason he is unable to continue as Republican Town Committee chair. Zappi had been vice-chair.

“Bob Zappi has made outstanding contributions to the organization during the last two years,” Wolgast said in a statement.

Westporter Clint Goss sat on a stone bench on the Westport Library River Walk Monday playing a Hang drum, an instrument designed in Switzerland. Created in 2000, the Hang (pronounced “hung”) is one of the younger musical instruments and is the result of many years of research on the steel pan and many other resonating percussion instruments from around the world. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Monday, June 25, 2007

Today was the first day of the Beach School at Westport’s Compo Beach. In the foreground, campers are getting prepared for a swim on a hot day while in the background, a group finishes a class in sea life at Compo. At low tide, they will be taken to explore for sea life themselves. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

A woman motorist was taken to Norwalk Hospital today after her car crashed into a stone pillar in front of 270 Saugatuck Ave. in Westport. The extent of her injuries was not known. Rush hour traffic on the busy roadway was backed up by the 7:20 a.m. accident. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Construction crews begin demolishing the house at 42 Old Hill Road in Westport today. The 1961 house on one acre of property sold in May for $1,725,000. It was the WestportNow Teardown of the Day on June 22. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A weekend of clear blue skies and comfortable temperatures barely reaching 80 ended with another pretty sunset over the Ned Dimes Marina at Westport’s Compo Beach. Today’s forecast is for mostly sunny skies wiith a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid-80s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Levitt Pavilion tonight opened its summer season of 57 free concerts with a performance by four-time Grammy-nominated Buckwheat Zydeco. The Levitt is operating with a temporary stage for the next two seasons. More information is available at www.levittpavilion.com. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Sunday, June 24, 2007

The new Sunday edition of the Westport Farmers Market debuted today on a shaded meadow behind the Westport Center for Senior Activities.Visitors to the Sunday farmers market had plenty of breads to choose from. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Beginning at 10 a.m. a stream of buyers made their way to the market where, amid the bleats from four goats, they found a bounty of locally produced fruits, vegetables and baked goods.

The market will operate every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October. It is meant to allow working people to join those shoppers who frequent the Thursday market next to the Westport Country Playhouse.

The grassy setting surrounded by woods on a hill off Imperial Avenue “offers easier accessibility” than the Playhouse site, said Selectwoman Shelly Kassen.

A lush green lawn of the Westport Center for Senior Activities was the venue for today’s debut of the Sunday Westport Farmers Market. The opening of the Sunday version followed last year’s successful launch of the weekly Thursday market at the Westport Country Playhouse, which continues this year. The Sunday market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Workers erected a sign at Westport’s Compo Beach reminding visitors that the Independence Day fireworks are set for Monday, July 3. Vehicle passes at $30 are available at Westport police headquarters and the Parks and Recreation Department office at Longshore Club Park. The event is a joint effort of the Westport Police Athletic League and the Parks and Recreation Department. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com